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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    ​​Medical Marijuana Assistance Program (MMAP)

    With the passage of Act 16 of 2016, the Medical Marijuana Program Fund was created as a special fund in the State Treasury. The Bureau of Medical Marijuana (Bureau) was tasked with assisting patients by using an allotted percentage of this fund to establish:

    1. A program to assist with the cost of providing medical marijuana to patients who demonstrate financial hardship or need;
    2. A program to provide for the cost of background checks for caregivers.
    3. A program to assist patients and caregivers with the cost associated with the waiver or reduction of fees for identification card.

    The Bureau has been providing patient assistance since December of 2017, and with the passage of Act 44 of 2021 was able to expand on and implement the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program, or MMAP.

    MMAP serves medical marijuana caregivers as well as patients who are enrolled, and can verify participation in, one of the following existing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Commonwealth) financial hardship programs:

    • Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
    • Medicaid (PA Medical Assistance)
    • Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly/Needs Enhancement Tier (PACE/PACENET)
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Women, Infants and Children (WIC)​

    To expedite assistance, expansion of MMAP has occurred in three phases:

    • Phase 1 eliminated annual card fees for eligible participants registered in an existing Commonwealth financial hardship program.
    • Phase 2 eliminated all background check fees for caregivers.
    • Phase 3 distributes a $50 benefit per month per eligible patient. Currently this phase is only eligible for patients enrolled in PACE and PACENET.​

    Phases 1 and 2 were implemented on March 1, 2022. Phase 3 was launched in the form of a pilot in November of 2022 for patients enrolled in PACE and PACENET. Expansion of Phase 3 is dependent on the funding that will be allocated to the program in the future.

    Resources